It was a night that will echo through the annals of OHL history—a night the Kitchener Rangers and their loyal fans won’t soon forget.
In a thrilling Game 7 showdown on Tuesday, the Rangers sealed an unforgettable comeback, edging out the Windsor Spitfires 2-1 in overtime to claim the series and advance to the Western Conference Finals. With the win, Kitchener becomes just the sixth team in Ontario Hockey League history to rally from a 3-0 series deficit, joining the elite ranks of the 2019 Guelph Storm, 1988 Ottawa 67’s, 2014 Peterborough Petes, and the Windsor Spitfires—who’ve remarkably done it twice.
The hero of the night was none other than forward Luke Ellinas, who netted both of Kitchener’s goals, including the dramatic overtime winner.
“There’s a lot of excitement for sure,” Ellinas shared after the game. “Really, no one believed in us except our group here. To be able to come back like this is huge. We’re excited, but we know the job’s not done yet.”
Ellinas has been on fire this series, tallying six goals across seven games and stepping up when it mattered most.
“He’s found another gear,” said 570 Colour Commentator Paul Fixter. “He’s playing at a whole new level and delivering star performances night after night—none bigger than tonight.”
The victory also came thanks to a stellar effort in net from goaltender Jackson Parsons, who turned aside 39 shots to keep the Rangers in the game.
Next, the Rangers turn their attention to a fierce Western Conference Finals matchup against their longtime rivals, the London Knights. The stakes are high as Kitchener looks to avenge last year’s second-round sweep and reach the finals for the first time since 2018.
Game 1 is set for Friday at Budweiser Gardens in London, while the series returns to Kitchener for Game 3 on Monday night.
